A K S SastryA.R.K. Sastry joined Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in the Western Circle, Pune in 1961; worked in the Eastern Circle, BSI, Shillong; BSI Headquarters in different posts including the post of project Coordinator of US Fish & Wildlife funded BSI projct on Endangered Species of Flora, and retired as Joint Director. Worked as Director, Biodiversity programmes in the WWF-India, New Delhi. Published about 15 books and 75 research papers. Visited several US Botanical Institutions, Kew & Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. First recipient of Distinguished Scientist Award (Vishisht Vaignyanik Purashkar) from the Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi in 1993; was a member of the IUCN Threatened plants committee for the Indian subcontinent. He is a Member of Research Council, Tropical Botanical Research Institute, Palode under the Kerala State Council for Sci., Tech.,& Environment, Tiruvananthapuram. P.K. Hajra joined the BSI in the Central National Herbarium; worked in the Eastern Circle, BSI, Shillong and obtained M.Sc and Ph.D from Gauhati University. Published over 75 scientific papers, many books (as author or editor) while in BSI. Held different posts during his service including the post of Director, Biosphere Reserves, MoEF, New Delhi and Retd. as Director, BSI. Visited many U.S Botanical Institutions (as Project Officer, POSSCEF) and many other countries during his tenure as Director, BSI. Received H.Santapau and J.W.Harshberger Medals and is Consultant to National Remote Sensing Agency on floristics. Read More Read Less